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Brussels — The European Union launched a formal strategy on Thursday to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific, counter China’s rising forces, seek trade agreements with Taiwan, and more ships to maintain open sea lanes. Promised to deploy.
EU foreign policy director Josep Borrell argued that the strategy was open to China, especially in areas such as climate change, but diplomats told Reuters that India, Japan, Australia and Taiwan. He said his deeper relationship with him was aimed at limiting Beijing’s power.
Borrell also said Wednesday’s agreement between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom to establish a security partnership in the Indo-Pacific that had not been consulted with the EU indicated the need for more aggressive foreign policy. rice field.
He said the EU is eager to work with Britain on security, but London has shown no interest since leaving Brock, saying Australia has canceled a $ 40 billion submarine deal with France. I regret it.
Borrell talked about the “strategic autonomy” advocated by French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, “Like everyone else, we must survive ourselves.”
“I understand the extent to which the French government must be disappointed,” he said.
EU Chair Charles Michel said the United States has agreed with Australia and the United Kingdom, “further demonstrating the need for a common EU approach in regions of strategic interest.”
Following the initial plans for April, the EU has set seven areas of increasing influence in the Indo-Pacific, Health, Security, Data, Infrastructure, Environment, Trade and Ocean.
The plan has security implications such as improving the EU’s diplomatic profile on the Indo-Pacific issue, increasing EU personnel and regional investment, dispatching ships to the South China Sea and placing Europeans on Australian patrols. May mean.
“Given the importance of a meaningful European Navy presence in the Indo-Pacific, the EU will look for ways to ensure that its member states strengthen their naval deployments,” the document said.
After Lithuania deepens its ties with Taiwan, trade negotiations with Taiwan could further frustrate the EU’s second-largest trading partner, China. China believes that part of the fiercely democratic and autonomous Taiwan of “One China” will eventually merge with the mainland, and is immediately angry at the move suggesting that the island is another. increase.
Robin Emot
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